paradis | sha la la la la la my oh my

[ Yosuke waits expectantly as Yu examines the object. He knows that humans wear them but he has no idea what they're called. At the new word, Yosuke perks up as well. ]

"Sandal."

[ It sounds vaguely familiar, like he might have heard humans say it in passing while he swam by. ]

There are a lot of those along the bottom. Do you want it? I already have some.

Do I... [ Yu laughs outright, surprised. ] No, no. That's alright. I have a pair of my own at home.

[ He's not sure how to explain how strange it would be for him to turn up with a collection of slimy shoes. He could never prepare enough answers for Dojima's one thousand needling questions.

Yu sets the sandal down, folding his arms in his lap. ]

Did you have other questions? About what it's like up here. I don't mind explaining.

[ Yosuke hadn't realized how silly of an offer that might sound. Yu's laugh surprised him, although not unpleasant, it does make him feel a little self-conscious. His find press sheepishly to the sides of his head as he breaks eye contact, wearing an uneasy grin. ]

Y-Yeah, of course you do. Heh heh.

[ Whoops?

But boy does he have questions. It seems to be enough to bring him around again. Yosuke glances to either side, checking for other humans. Seeing none close by, he decides to come closer and grips the edge of the dock. ]

I've got a few...what do you do when you're not at the river? What kind of fish are you always trying to catch?

[ Yosuke looking sheepish is very cute, but the uneasy look makes Yu feel a little bad. He hadn't meant to... it wasn't a bad thing! Just... hm. Cultural differences. ]

Ah, well... [ Yu considers that for a long moment. ] Maybe it's not so different from when you're away from the dock. I study, I work, I spend time with my friends and family... [ His smile is fleeting. ] As for the fish, well... anything that bites. [ He doesn't laugh, but the humor is there, lurking in his eyes. ]

[ What kind of work do humans do? He knows fishing is work but clearly Yu can't do that on land. He tilts his head as he listens, his fins relaxing slightly. ]

What are you studying? And what do you work on?

[ As for the fish, Yosuke lets out a huff that borders on laugh. ]

I guess that doesn't give me much of an excuse, huh?

[ Yu laughs again at all the questions, a quieter thing. ]

I didn't give you much of a choice, either. [ He remembers their struggle before Yosuke unceremoniously flopped onto the dock. ]

We study general subjects in school. Math, history, Japanese, geography, English, science... [ He pauses as he thinks about his work. Yosuke will likely have no frame of reference for folding envelopes. ] As for work, I help clean the local hospital, and during the week I work a lot with kids. As a tutor, and as ... someone who looks after them. [ "Daycare assistant" may not translate, but the idea will. ]

[ Those are a lot of things that he doesn't have to think about, really. Math? Well, he can count and estimate things fairly quickly. History? He knows the history of the Samegawa and his family line. Japanese? Clearly he speaks it. Geography...the general area, yes, anywhere the river goes and out to the ocean. But not beyond that. English? He's not even sure what that is. Science? Technically he is science, does that count?

He's a little intimidated, actually. Yu seems like someone who knows a lot...how much does he know about Yosuke's world, he wonders? But he doesn't ask. Not yet. ]

...It sounds like you're a pretty busy guy.

[ Yu only smiles. ]

I'm used to keeping my time occupied, that's all. By the way, I meant to ask. How is your fin?

Oh--

[ He blinks, looking down into the water. There's a pause, before he allows the rest of his body to float up. Turning onto one side, he shows where the hook had penetrated his fin and even pulls at the membrane. It's a little bit of a scab, but mostly healed over. ]

No problem. Almost good as new. Maybe I'll even get a cool scar out of it?

A valiant warrior, whose battle scars prove his mettle.... [ Yu recites the words as if recounting an old tale, his smile making his eyes crinkle. ] It'd suit you, I think.

[ Hearing it said like that feels a little self-serving, but it's exactly what he'd been going for. Yosuke can't help but grin and rolls onto his back. ]

That's the idea.

[ Is he rugged and cool now? ]

A few didn't believe me, but they still thought it was a good story.

[ Yu's smile is warm and indulgent, but he doesn't say anything for a moment. ]

I haven't told anyone. [ His voice is quiet and measured. ] I didn't think you needed the scrutiny.

[ There's actually some relief in that. Yosuke knows that if he'd actually given any indication that he stayed and chatted with a human, he would've been in much bigger trouble with the powers that be. (AKA parents.) Having other humans looking for him? Definitely would be a problem.

He's not sure if there's a joke hidden in there somewhere, but there's a whole lot of truth, too. Yosuke seems contemplative for a moment. ]

What'd you think they'd do?

Look for you.

[ He's honest, his smile having been replaced with a more serious look. ]

I figure there's probably a reason why you haven't really interacted with humans before. Whatever it is, I don't want to ruin that.

[ Well, that would be bad, wouldn't it? It's open-ended, but he probably doesn't need specifics. Yu is right, they're warned to stay away.

Yosuke straightens himself again and lowers his bottom half back into the water. ]

...Honestly, we don't talk about humans much. Just we're told to stay away and that you'll eat us if you can. I never really thought much about it before, but...I mean, you're the first human I've met and you let me go.

[ Truthfully, Yu thinks the outside world might do more than just look for Yosuke and his kind. But it would start with looking, and only escalate. Even if Yosuke were a terrible person, he wouldn't deserve that, and the other mermaids - wherever they are - wouldn't either. ]

Well, like I said, you're a person. [ His expression softens a touch. ] That's all that matters to me. I'm sure there are plenty who would feel the same way I do, but it's still a good idea to be cautious about the ones who might not.

[ Be cautious...so it sounds like there is a legitimate reason to worry, huh? He's not exactly surprised, nor would he really have believed Yu if Yu had said everyone would just be friendly and welcoming, but that doesn't mean it isn't a pleasant notion otherwise. ]

I don't think it'd be so bad if they were like you.

[ Yu ducks his head slightly, smiling, quietly abashed. ]

I don't know about that.

[ He looks up again, expression warm. ]

People are good and bad, and everything in between. I'm sure it's the same for you.

[ Yosuke huffs, but falls quiet for a minute. It's a thoughtful pause. ]

Something like that...

[ He turns, doing a lazy loop in the water by the dock. ]

What are you reading?

[ ... that's sort of an odd answer to give. Yu lets it slide for now. He's curious about Yosuke's world, very much so, but trying to avoid asking about it directly. If Yosuke decides to open up on his own, that will be enough. ]

It's called Home Gardening. [ Yu holds it up. ] I like to garden with my little cousin, Nanako. Reading has taught me a lot about it.

[ When Yu holds it up, Yosuke swims a little bit closer, once again reaching out to hold onto the edge of the dock. He'd been keen on keeping some distance between them when they first met, but he's quickly growing more comfortable with the proximity. Maybe too quickly. ]

Oh yeah?

[ He tilts his head to the side. ]

Can you show me?

[ Are there pictures? Or is Yu going to read to him? ]

[ Another smile sneaks across Yu's face at Yosuke's curiosity. And his growing familiarity, coming so close like that.

Yu holds the book in his lap so that it faces outwards, and he leans over it slightly so he can look at its pages upside-down. ]

I can show you a few things. There are diagrams, and drawings.

[ He flips to a recent page, which shows a picture of a pile of seeds, and an illustrated diagram of how to plant and care for them. ]

I've been reading about growing melons, lately.

[ He is most definitely curious--he's finding he's interested in learning more about human things, or at least human things that seem to be worth Yu's attention. If Yu is watching the water at all, he might see Yosuke's tail wave back and forth slowly underneath the water's surface. ]

Growing melons?

[ He's got no idea what melons are. But--!

As he looks around the drawings and diagrams, there are things the recognizes. ]

...Oh, hey! You write kinda the same as we do.

[ Ah, that's cute. The way he's moving his tail like that... it's sort of puppyish. ... no, he shouldn't think like that--

... but it's still sort of cute. ]

"Kind of"?

[ A head tilt. ]

Well, we both speak Japanese, so it makes sense our written language would be similar. Actually, I'm surprised you have a written language. [ Given the water. What do they use as ink? As paper? ]

[ Yosuke nods, clearly pleased by this newfound similarity. ]

Yeah! I mean, you've got some characters I don't recognize, but I see ones I do.

[ Wait, what? Yosuke looks perplexed. ]

You are? Heh, I bet you we've been writing longer than you.

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